How to be Safe When Riding a Motorcycle

Riding a motorcycle is a great recreational activity. If you enjoy the great outdoors and extreme sports, taking risks and racing through difficult tracks, a race bike might be all you need. It will bring you great exhilaration and give you quite the adrenaline rush. Alternatively, if a more relaxed time outdoors is what you seek, a motorcycle ride down the countryside might be all you need.

Without the right safety measures, however, a motorcycle ride can turn fatally dangerous in an instant. Following the recognized safety rules, and having the right gear with every motorcycle ride is necessary to protect you from harm. That’s why you need to know the measures to take to ensure you are safe while riding. These are the seven essential measures to keep you safe while on a motorbike.

1. Get the Right Experience and Training

It will not help your case being a novice motorcyclist. Unfortunately, this is the case with most people on the road today – the ones caught up in accidents anyway. For such riders, they become extra vulnerable because they are not fully proficient. They cannot handle the bike well enough and neither can they ride their way in high traffic roads.

It will serve you well to know the basics. For this reason, ensure you have the right training and that you take short proficiency courses frequently. It might be the difference between you and the next motorbike accident victim.

2. Ensure you are Properly Dressed

In the event of an accident, there is very little to shield you from impact with any hard surface. It is for this reason that many wearables have been developed to protect you should an accident occur. There are specialized boots, jackets, shin guards and helmets made for riders. Also, caps exist to protect your shoulders, knees and even kidneys.

Obviously, you might not need to put on all these protective clothing for a simple ride. You should, nevertheless, always wear a heavy jacket, boots, and a helmet every time you take the bike out for a spin. This will ensure you protect yourself from falls, road rash, and other injuries.

3. Have a Roadworthy Bike

An un-roadworthy bike might be a fast ticket out of this earth. If you are not ready to leave us just yet, be always advised to maintain your vehicle properly. For owners, carry out regular checks on your motorcycle to ensure it is functioning properly.

When hiring a bike too, please note that the bikes on offer by most rental companies leave plenty to be desired. More often than not, they are poorly maintained. You should, thus, always be extra observant before hiring a motorcycle. Check the tire threads, oiling, and every other aspect of the bike carefully. Safety will always begin with you. These rental companies charge inflated rates for any repairs on the bike that may arise from damages. Scrutiny of the motorcycle will ensure you do not accept any unnecessary liability later.

4. Have the Right Helmet

Protective gear is key during motorcycle riding. Unfortunately, most people ignore this fact and realize it too late. The helmet is an essential protective gear. Always carefully consider one before jumping on a motorcycle.

Most rental companies do not give perfectly safe helmets for use. These helmets are often of a low quality and from light and thin material. In the event of an accident, such a helmet may not help prevent serious injuries. If you are a regular motorcyclist, it is advisable to invest in your helmet. Its strength and quality are assured.

On the road, the helmet should be tied up tightly to ensure it does not slip off. This will reduce the likelihood of head injuries severe traumas in case an accident occurs. Additionally, always make sure your helmet is in perfect condition and wear it at all times when riding a motorcycle.

5. Get the Right Insurance Cover

Many motorcyclists have no clue what insurance cover to get their bikes. On the occurrence of an accident, they are forced to meet extra unnecessary costs. This due to the insufficient protection their insurance policy provides.

To avoid this, you should have adequate information on the various covers available. Unfortunately, there are only a few insurance providers offering motorcycle insurance. Despite this, you need to have a plan to get covered. Doing so will shield you from huge and burdensome hospital bills you might incur after an accident. Also, remember to be careful on the road and be covered by the right insurance policy in case of anything.

6. Familiarize yourself With the Local Roads

A lot of riders suffer accidents for not being familiar with the roads they use. Uneven surfaces and pothole have been the cause of many an accident before. Encountering manhole covers, oil and petrol leaks plus loose road surfaces have, also, contributed to this.

With a few precautions though, you can significantly reduce accident risks from unfamiliar roads and uneven road surfaces. Firstly, ensure you remain within indicated speed limits when riding on unfamiliar roads. You will allow yourself more time to react and maneuver around road hazards along the way. Check the tires, also, to ensure they are inflated to the pressure recommended. The depth of the tire tread should, as well, be within the legal limits. It would be better to replace worn out tires than to meet the repair and hospital costs after an accident.

7. Be mindful of Other Road Users

In a considerable number of accidents involving motorcycles, the bikers themselves were not at fault. To avoid not getting caught up in such an accident, don’t drive too close to another vehicle on the road. Leaving enough space between you and the next car allows you time to react in the event of anything unordinary happens. If the car behind is, also, driving too close to you, create more room for yourself in front, to allow you to compensate.

With the safety measures above you will certainly be assured a better riding experience with fewer risks. As such, your experience outdoors will remain fruitful and fun. Happy days for you and friends all around.